Salmonella outbreak linked to organic sprouted chia powder

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported today that as of June 9, 2014, a total of 21 persons infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Newport (13 persons), Salmonella Hartford (6 persons), or Salmonella Oranienburg (2 persons) have been reported from 12 states.

Image/CDC

Collaborative investigation efforts of state, local, and federal public health and regulatory agencies indicate that organic sprouted chia powder is the likely source of this outbreak. Chia powder is made from ground dried chia seeds.

Product testing of a sample of leftover Navitas Naturals Organic Sprouted Chia Powder collected from an ill person’s home in Connecticut isolated the outbreak strains of Salmonella Newport andSalmonella Hartford, and an additional serotype, Salmonella Oranienburg. A search of the PulseNet database identified a total of two ill persons infected with the same strain of SalmonellaOranienburg in two U.S. states. This strain of Salmonella Oranienburg has been seen before in PulseNet, one case per month on average. Initial interviews with ill persons suggested a link to the ongoing outbreak investigation, so these illnesses have been combined with the existingSalmonella Newport and Salmonella Hartford infections previously identified.